ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball team earned a 3-2 victory over NC State on Wednesday, March 4, at Hunt Softball Park. The win improved the Phoenix to 9-4 overall while the Wolfpack fell to 7-7.
Freshman Kiandra Mitchum (5-2) earned her second straight win in as many days after four innings with four hits and two runs allowed, both earned, along with three strikeouts. Junior Kayla Caruso pitched three scoreless innings in relief and gave up two hits while fanning three batters to pick up the save.
Alaina Hall led the maroon and gold at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance, which included a double. Emily Cameron was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI while Madison Kadlic also had an RBI after going 1-for-3.
Both teams began its scoring in the second inning. NC State’s Meredith Burroughs hit a solo home run to right center to plate the first run of the game in the top of the frame and gave the Wolfpack the early 1-0 advantage.
Elon responded with a run of its own in the bottom half. Kadlic drove in Sarah Little on a two-out RBI single to right center to tie the game at 1-1. Little had reached earlier on a single to left field and advanced to second on a stolen base before crossing home plate.
The Phoenix would take the lead for good in the bottom of the third. Cameron placed a single up the middle that scored Hall and Kara Shutt to move the Phoenix ahead 3-1. Hall reached earlier in the inning on a single while Shutt reached base on an error by the third baseman.
NC State trimmed the Phoenix’s lead to one in the top of the fourth. Hannah Yeager singled to left center to score Maggie Hawkins, who had reached earlier on a free pass. That brought the Wolfpack closer to the Phoenix at 3-2 and a runner on base with two outs. Mitchum was able to induce the next out on a fly out to end the inning.
The Wolfpack threatened in the top of the fifth after the leadoff hitter reached on a single followed by another single. A throwing error on the Phoenix moved the runners to second and third with no outs. NC State nearly plated the tying run on the next play on a passed ball, but catcher Emily Roper was able to recover to tag out the runner at home for an out. Elon escaped the inning unharmed after the next two batters went down in order.
Caruso, who came on in relief of Mitchum in the fifth inning, threw a 1-2-3 sixth and seventh inning to preserve the win for the maroon and gold. It was the Phoenix’s first victory over NC State since 2012 and its second overall against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent this season.
The Phoenix returns to the field tomorrow, March 5, in Greensboro, N.C., to play N.C. A&T. That game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.